Anna vs Grainne
Anna and Grainnecompared on official birth-registration statistics and Namewise's recorded data. This page states what each name's record shows — it never picks a winner or scores one name against the other.
Head to head
Ranks are only compared within one published list and one year. Two ranks from different years, from a boys' and a girls' list, or from different registrars are not comparable, so they are not placed side by side.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
In 2018, Anna was ranked #12 and Grainne #896 among girls in Republic of Ireland.
Northern Ireland · Girls
In 2024, Anna was ranked #19 and Grainne #407 among girls in Northern Ireland.
England and Wales · Girls
In 2022, Anna was ranked #114 and Grainne #5669 among girls in England and Wales.
Anna and Grainne over time
Anna and Grainne appear together in 3 published lists, across 102 years of shared records. Anna held the stronger position in more years in 3 of them, Grainne in 0.
In none of those lists did their order change and stay changed.
Grainne reached its own highest recorded position earlier in 3 of those lists, and Anna in none. Each position is a place inside its own list, so this compares when they peaked and never how high.
Counted list by list. Two names in the same published list are measured on the same scale in the same year, so those comparisons are real — but positions from different lists are not, so nothing here is combined into an overall standing.
How this pair is related
The relationship kinds these two qualify for, each under its own stated rule. Every one is drawn from a list they both appear in.
- Repeatedly exchanged positions
Anna and Grainne changed places 8 times in Republic of Ireland · Girls between 1964 and 2018, ending at #12 and #896.
- Longest-running competitions
Anna and Grainne were both ranked in Republic of Ireland · Girls for 55 years, from 1964 to 2018, ending at #12 and #896.
List by list
Republic of Ireland · Girls55 shared years, 1964–2018
Anna held the stronger position in 36 of those years, Grainne in 19.
Highest recorded here: Anna #12 in 2013, Grainne #37 in 1989.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2018: Anna #12, Grainne #896.
Northern Ireland · Girls28 shared years, 1997–2024
Anna held the stronger position in 28 of those years, Grainne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #4 in 2016, Grainne #60 in 1998.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2024: Anna #19, Grainne #407.
England and Wales · Girls19 shared years, 1996–2022
Anna held the stronger position in 19 of those years, Grainne in 0.
Highest recorded here: Anna #31 in 2000, Grainne #1234 in 1997.
The order between them never changed and held in this list.
Most recent shared year, 2022: Anna #114, Grainne #5669.
Two names moving past each other in a ranking is a fact about the ranking. Namewise does not claim one name displaced the other, that families chose between them, or that either influenced the other — none of that is in this data.
Side by side
| Field | Anna | Grainne |
|---|---|---|
| Record type | Editorially researched profile | Official statistical record (evidence-only) |
| Gender usage | female | female |
| Meaning | A form of Hannah used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament, from the Hebrew root 'hanan' relating to grace. Appears in the New Testament as a prophetess who recognised Jesus as the Messiah. | Not yet recorded |
| Origin | Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission | Not yet recorded |
| Pronunciation | /ˈa.na/ | Not yet recorded |
| Syllables | 2 | 2 |
| Common variants / nicknames | Not yet recorded | Not yet recorded |
| Recorded regional usage | AU-NSW, GB-ENW, GB-NIR, GB-SCT, IE, NO, NZ | GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE |
| Most recent popularity observation | Norway · Girls #23 (2025) | Northern Ireland · Girls #407 (2024) |
| Pronunciation clarity (demonstration score) | 90/100 | Not yet recorded |
| Spelling simplicity (demonstration score) | 95/100 | 82/100 |
| International familiarity (demonstration score) | 100/100 | 100/100 |
| Data Confidence | medium | medium |
What the data shows
- Anna has a recorded origin (Biblical Hebrew, via Greek/Latin transmission); Grainne does not have one recorded yet.
- Anna and Grainne both have 2 syllables.
- A meaning is recorded for Anna; Grainne doesn't have one written yet.
- Both names have recorded usage in GB-ENW, GB-NIR, IE.
How each name got here
Anna
Popularity journey
First recorded1945
First recorded at #38 among girls in Norway in 1945 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Norway · Girls
Highest recorded1956–2021
Highest recorded position: #3 among girls in New Zealand, in 1980 (recorded 1956–2021).
New Zealand · Girls
Most recent2025
Most recently recorded at #23 among girls in Norway, in 2025.
Norway · Girls
Grainne
Popularity journey
First recorded1964
First recorded at #62 among girls in Republic of Ireland in 1964 — the earliest year that source publishes this name, not necessarily the earliest it was used.
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Highest recorded1964–2018
Highest recorded position: #37 among girls in Republic of Ireland, in 1989 (recorded 1964–2018).
Republic of Ireland · Girls
Most recent2024
Most recently recorded at #407 among girls in Northern Ireland, in 2024.
Northern Ireland · Girls